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Lancashire Police and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service are investigating the cause of the fatal blaze and the circumstances.

The woman has not been named but police said next of kin had been informed – she is understood to have lived in the house for around two years.

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The 55-year-old woman was last seen trying to open her first floor window

One neighbour Ian Ireland, 47, said: “I saw smoke billowing out the window at about 8.15am.

I can’t imagine what was going though her mind. It’s terrible

Neighbour Ian Ireland

“I thought the house was empty. Her dad, whose house it is, lives in the Lake District.

“I went outside and saw two guys at the front door. They had managed to get it open but there was too much smoke to get inside. Then the fire brigade arrived.

“Somebody said they saw the woman trying to get out of the front window. I can’t imagine what was going though her mind. It’s terrible.

“I didn’t really know the woman that well. She never really came out of the house.

“I spoke to her dad more. He’s a really nice bloke. My thoughts are with him.”

Another resident said: “I saw smoke coming out of the house. I went across the road to see if I could help but the fire brigade were just arriving.

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Crime scene investigation van at the scorched property

“We didn’t see much of her. I knew her to say hello to. It’s such a tragic thing to happen.”

There was nobody else in the house when firefighters arrived and police confirmed the woman was alone in the property.

Police were today guarding the house yesterday and forensic officers in white suits could be seen carrying items out of the house before taking them away in a crime scene investigation van.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “We are working with our colleagues from the fire service following a fatal house fire in Chatburn.

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Police officer outside the property as forensic officer investigate

“We were notified of the blaze after a member of the public had seen a house on fire.

“Sadly, a 55-year-old woman was found dead inside one of the bedrooms. The cause of the fire is under investigation.”

A spokesman for the fire service said: “Four firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus and a hose-reel jet entered the property and located a casualty inside who was sadly pronounced as deceased by paramedics.

“An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway. This is a tragedy and our condolences go out to the person’s family.”